2008 Missouri State Grand Champions
Jesse James Festival - Kearney, MO
The Smoke Me Tender BBQ Team won its first ever Grand Championship at the Jesse James Festival in Kearney, Missouri, September 19-20, 2008. Teammates include Gary & Tammye, Aaron & Amanda, and Rod.
This competition included 38 teams. Smoke Me Tender placed fifth with their turkey. After the competition, Tammye confessed that it was the first time the team had ever smoked turkey for judging. They placed second for brisket, the second contest in a row in which they won second place with their brisket. Their chicken took third place, pork butt took seventh and ribs were barely out of the top ten. While not chosen for first place in any individual meat category, all of their turn-ins scored toward the top end of the competition and those combined scores earned the team the Overall Grand Champion title for the first time. This win carries the Show-Me State Champion title and also qualifies the team for coveted spots in the Invitational division at the 2009 American Royal Barbecue and the 2009 Great American BBQ.
While most teams are quite serious about the quality of their barbecue, they are also there to have fun. Some good-natured skulduggery took place during this contest. A life-size Elvis statue, mascot for the Smokin' Elvises, was kidnapped in the dead of night and held for ransom by some of that teams "friends". But it ended with Elvis back with his rightful owners and no hard feelings.
Overall: Grand Champion
Chicken: 3rd
Ribs: 11th
Pork: 7th
Brisket: 2nd